Article conditioning shakeout tumbler



Jan. 11, 1944. E. D. PURKETT 4 3 ARTICLE CONDITIONING SHAKE-DUI TUMBLERFiled June 30, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1944. E. D. PURKETTARTICLE CONDITIONING SHAKE-OUT TUMBLER Filed June 30, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 2 6.0001 44 oa adoaza Jan. 11, 1944. E. D. PURKETT I2,339,030

ARTICLE CONDITIONING SHAKE-OUT TUMBLER Filed June so, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet s Jan. 11, 1944. PURKETT 2,339,030

ARTICLE CONDITIONING smmwouw TUMBLER Filed June 30, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet4 w \RQM Gnome/ Patented Jan. 11,

ARTICLE CONDITIONING summons:

- TUMBLER I v Edward D. Purkett, Joplin, Mo. Application June 30, 1941,Serial No. 460,513 22 Claims. (01. 34-131} This invention relates toarticle conditioning shake-out tumbler for use in laundries, and is animprovement over the structure shown in my copending application SerialNo. 232,873, filed October 1, 1938, now Patent No. 2,253,047, grantedAugust 19, 1941.

In the prior construction referred to, I have disclosed a laundryshake-out tumbler wherein articles, after they had been laundered andthe majority of the water extracted therefrom, were tumbled to loosenthem and sufliciently remove the wrinkles from the articles tofacilitate the' subsequent ironing operation. In the prior constructionreferred to, I employed the advantageous feature of heating the articlesas they were being tumbled and loosened, it being found that thesubjection of the damp articles to heat assisted in removing thewrinkles and creases and also maintained the articles at arelativelyhigh temperature so as to minimize the length of time required for theironing operation.

In the prior construction referred to the apparatus was provided with anair circulating system in the nature of a continuous duct a part ofwhich was formed by the shake-out tumbler, the articles being tumbledwhile being subjected to a moving column of air through the system.

ing the outside ducts, as in the prior construction,

in order to maintain the circulation of the air.

A furthenobject is to provide a tumbler mounted to turn as a unit on afixed horizontal axis and having a portion of the tumbler perforated andsurrounded by a heating casing whereby such casing and the perforatedportion of the tumbler form a heated chamber in which air is heated, theconstruction and arrangement of the tumbler parts being such that thelifting and falling of the articles therein induce a, circulation ofheated air through the tumbler.

Upon the completion of the tumbling operation,

the portion of the duct connected to one end ofthe tumbler would beswung away from operative position to permit the tumbler to be turned ona horizontal axis to a dumping position wherein said end of the tumblerwould open downwardly to discharge articles as the tumbler continued torotate. v

An important object of the present invention is to provide" a greatlysimplified and far more compact apparatus which is capable of performingall or the functions of the prior-apparatus referred to. j 1

More specifically an important object of the invention is to provide ashake-out tumbler mechanism wherein the tumbler is mounted to rotate ona single horizontal axis to tumble the clothes or other articlestherein, and wherein'the tumbler is so constructed as to be able todischarge the loosened articles therefrom without the necessity forproviding a second axis on which the tumbler may turn to a dischargingposition, as is true in the prior-construction, thus greatly simplifyingthe apparatus. v f

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein the sameresults may be obtained as A further object is to provide the tumblerwith a novel form of door structure whereby the tumbler readily may beloaded or the tumbled articles discharged therefrom while the tumblerremains stationary and without the necessity for turning the tumbler onan axis diiierent from the normal rotational axis of the.tumbler to .adischarging position, as is necessary in the prior construction. g

A further object is to provide a tumbler having a door forming part ofone end wall and part of the cylindrical wall of the tumbler and movablebetween open and closed positions with the door opening approximately ina predetermined position with respect to tumblingribs within thetumbling cylinder, whereby the articles may be readily discharged fromthe tumbler without interference by the tumbling ribs.-

A further object is to provide novel control mechanism for the source ofpower which drives the tumbler, and to provide in connectioniwith thecontrol mechanism anovel form ofsafety means whereby an operator isprotected from in-- jury in the event his hand or any other portion ofhis body moves into the space between the supporting table and thedownwardly moving side of the tumbler. the safety means functioningunder any such conditions to stop the motor'and apply a brake topromptlystop rotation of the tumbler. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description. In the drawings I haveshown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

' Figure lls an end elevation of the apparatus, parts beins broken away,i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts being broken away,

Figure 3 is s central vertical sectional view.

through. the tumbler taken substantially on line to the circulation ofheated air without emplbya a 3-3 of Figure 1, the supportingstructureand associated parts being omitted,

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of thetop of the tumbling drum as viewed in Figure 3, and associated elements,

Figure 'I is an enlarged end elevation showing the tumbler in dottedlines, looking in the direction 6f Figure 1 and illustrating the doorarrangement,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the tumbler showing associatedportions of the apparatus in dotted lines,

Figure 9 is a detail fragmentary sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 7,1

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the tumblerand cover structure looking from the left side of the apparatus asviewed in Figure 7, parts being shown in section,

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the control mechanism shown separatefrom the apparatus for the purpose of illustration, parts being shown insection andparts being broken away, and,

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on line |2-|2 of Figure 2 showingthe arrangement of the safety plate.

Referring to Figures 1, 2' and 5 the numeral l designates the basestructure of the apparatus as a whole. This structure is formed of apair of opposite corner posts I, a rear post l2 and a forward post l3,all of which may be made of hol-' low cross-sectional shape as shown inFigure 5. The forward post I3 is relatively, short as indicated inFigures 1 and 2 for a purpose to be described, At a point spaced fromtheir lower ends the four posts are connected by forward transversemembers l4 and rear transverse members l5, the former extending from thepost l3 to the respective posts H while the cross members i extend fromthe rear post i2 to the respective posts The structural elementsdescribed are preferably welded to each other. The forward post l3 andthe cross members |4 support a platform |6 adapted to hold a basket intowhich clothes or other laundered articles may be discharged, as willbecome apparent.

The posts II and I2 support a top plate |1 (Figures l and 2) and thesides of the base structure are closed by a preferably cylindrical walll8, this wall obviously being cut away in the space above the platformI6 and forwardly of the posts The space between the latter posts supporta forward closure plate l9 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

The tumbling mechanism to be referred to is supported by a singlerelatively heavy circular ,post 20 the lower end of which is arranged inand supported in vertical position by the rear post l2. This post isrigidly supported so as to withstand the load of the tumbling mechanismby welding between the upper ends of the posts II and |2 a plurality ofhorizontal braces 2| arranged similar to the braces l4 and I5.

Referring to Figure 3 it will be noted that the upper end of thesupporting post 20 has secured thereto, preferably by welding, acylindrical casing 22 the rear end of which is normally closed by arelatively light cover plate 23. The casing 22 is provided with aninternal flange 24 to which is bolted as at 25 an external annularflange 26 carried by a hub member 21.

A heavy stub shaft 28 is supported in suitable roller bearings 29carried by the hub 21 and the stub shaft carries the tumbling drumindicated prises a generally cylindrical wall 3| and a forward wall 32,and these walls are provided with a loading and discharge opening to bereferred to later. The tumbler further comprises a conical wall 33perforated as at 34 and provided with an attaching flange 35 arrangedwithin and spaced from the rear end of the cylindrical wall 3| andpreferably welded thereto. The projection of the cylindrical wall 3|rearwardly of the flange 35 is for a purpose to be described.

The conical wall 33 is connected at its smaller end, preferably bywelding, to a relatively heavy plate 36 and this plate is bolted orotherwise ser cured to a flange 31 which carries the stub shaft 28. Thisshaft, therefore, supports the tumbling drum for rotation during thetumbling operation, and in order to lift and drop laundered articlestherein, the drum i provided with a pair of lifting ribs 38.

A heating casing indicated as a whole by the numeral 39 is arranged asshown in Figure 3. This casing comprises a relatively heavy rear wall 40secured as at4| to the casing 22 whereby it is obviously rigidtherewith.The casing 39 further comprises a conical wall 42 spaced from theconical wall 33, and terminating in a cylindrical flange 43 (Figure 6)which project somewhat into the rear end of the tumbler Wall 3| and is.

of smaller diameter than such wall. The rear end of the tumbler wall 3|carries an annular channel 44 within which is arranged packing 4'5contacting with the flange 43 to form a substantially fluid-tight jointto prevent the escape of heat as will become apparent.

The space between the conical walls 33 and 42, the wall 40 and the rearend of the cylindrical wall 3| forms a heating chamber 46 in which arearranged steam coils 41 arranged as shown in Figures 3 and 4 andprovided with radiating fins 48. At the top and bottom of the apparatusthe heating pipes 41 are connected by inlet. and outlet headers 49 and50 respectively, and these headers are provided respectively with inletand outlet pipes 5| and 52 to supply steam to the pipes 41 and todischarge steam and water of condensation therefrom.

The drum 3|) is provided with an annular band 53 forming a pulleyengageable by abelt 54, driven in a manner to be described, to rotatethe drum 30. The pulley 53 is connected to and annularly spaced from thedrum 30 by a preferably channel shaped ring 55. The spacing of the pulley 53 from the drum is provided to protect the belt 54 from thedestructive effects of the heat 5'! extends from the forward wall 32 ofthe rum approximately to the flange 35 (Figure 3) of the conical portion33 of the drum.

- A cover structure 59 is provided for the opening formed by thecut-away portions 51 and 58. The cover structure comprises an arouatewall 60 concentric with the drum as a whole and of such length as toextend beyond the edges of the cutaway 51. The cover further comprises afront wall 8|. The latter wall has an arcuate central portion 62concentric with the axis of the drum and from such concentric portionthe edges 53 of the wall 3| are concavely curved toward the extremitiesof the cover as shown in Figure 7.

- The curvature of each edge portion 63 preferably coincides with thecurvature of the cut-away 58 so as to coincide therewith when the coveri in the open position shown in Figures 1 and 3. A circular plate 64 issecured against the front SI of the cover and is preferably weldedthereto. A hand wheel 65 is secured to the plate by welding the spokes56 of the wheel to the plate; A stiffening plate 01 is welded orotherwise secured against the inner face of the wall 32 and a bolt I58passes through the plate 01 and wall 32, through the wall BI and plate64 and then through a washer 69 seating against the plate 64. A nut isthreaded on the bolt and confines a spring 1| against the plate 64 tourge the wall 6| inwardly axially with respect to the drum 30. Suitablepacking 12 extends throughout the length of the cover edges 52 and 03and is'arranged between the cover and the wall 32 to providea leakproofjoint.

Throughout the length of the inner edge 13 of the arcuate portions 60 ofthe cover a steel or other metal stiffening strip 14 (Figures 8 and 9)is secured against the outer face of the arcuate wall 60. At spacedpoints inner and outer fiber bearing trips 15 and 16 are secured to thestrip 14 and to the inner surface of the wall 60, respectively. Thstrips 15 and 16 form bearing strips respectively engageable with theinner surface of the pulley 53 and the outer surface of the drum wall3|. Obviously the edge 13 of the arcuate wall 60 extends substantiallybeneath the pulley 53, as shown in Figure 6, and to the inner surface ofthe wall 60 is secured a packing strip 11 engageable with the tumblerwall 3| to provide a leakproof joint. This packing also contacts with aguide ring 18 secured to the wall 3|.

One end of the metal stiffening strip 14 (Figure 8) is provided with acircumferential projection 19 having an inclined face 80 engageable withthe similarly. inclined edge of a stop block 8| secured to the tumblerwall 3|. The edges .of the projection 19 and block 8| are engageablewhen the door structure 59 is inclosed position as will become apparent.Referring to Figures 9 and 10, it will be noted that one lateral edge ofthe stiffening strip 14 at the endof the door remote from the projection19 is provided with a lateral projection 02 having an inclined face 83(Figure 10) engageable with the similarly sloped adjacent end of thering section 55. As previously stated, a portion of the ring 55 isoffset as at 56 and the purpose of this is to permit the projection 82to engage the adjacent end of the track section to limit the turningmovement of the door structure 59 to closed position in the same mannerthat this function is performed by the projection 19 and block 8|. Thesection 56 of the ring referred to is offset a distance approximatelyequal to the circumferential extent of the loading and dischargingopening previously described so that the projection 82 is free to turnto the extent necessary for the door structure 09 to assume the fullyopened position shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent that th handwheel65 maybe grasped by the operator and rotated between the open and closedpositions.

The rear pos't I2 (Figures 2, 5 and 11) of the main support of theapparatus is provided with spaced horizontal supporting arms 85preferably welded thereto and a vertical support 00 is preferably weldedat its upper and lower ends to the arms 85. The support 80 carries adriving motor 81 preferably of the geared head type, suitable reductiongearing (not shown) being mounted in a casing 80 to operate a drivenshaft 89 at a speed materially lower than the speed of the motorarmature. The shaft 89 carries a pulley 90 around which the belt 54passes. This-belt extends upwardly through a suitable opening (notshown) in the top plate I1 and it will be apparent that the motor 81therefore rotates the tumbler during the'operation thereof.

The shaft 89 carries a brake drum 9| engageable by a lining 92 (Figure11) carried by a brake shoe 93. This brake shoe is mounted on a shaft 94carried by a bearing 95 and this hearing is bolted as at 95 to a plate91 secured to the support 06 by the same bolts 98 which secure themosupport for the control mechanism comprising the brake and otherelements to be described.

The shaft 94 is keyed with respect to the brake shoe 93 and also withrespect to a bell crank lever indicated as a whole'by the numeral 99 andcomprisingarms I00 and IOI. A spring I02 is connected at one end to theupper end of the arm WI and is connected at its lower end to the plate91. When the apparatus is not in operation the spring I02 is arranged tothe right of the shaft 94 and moves across the axis of this shaft to thedotted line position shown in Figure 11 when the motor is in operationand the purpose of this arrangement will be referred to later. i h

A switch mechanism I03 is carried by the 'lower end of the plate 91 andis provided with a stationary contact I04 and a movable contact I05, thelatter being carried by a shaft I09 having an operating crank I01. Theend of this crank is connected by a link I08 to the arm I00 as shown inFigure 11. Downward movement of the arm therefore opens the switch-whileupward movement of the arm closes the switch to operate the motor and atthe same time release the brake as will become apparent. The free end ofthe arm I00 is connected by a link 09 to a crank arm H0, (Figure 2).

The crank arm H0 is carried by one end of a shaft III mounted in endplates II2 carried by a tubular member II3 arranged above the top H andwelded to angular supports II4 which, in turn, are welded to the topplate I1. At the forward end of the apparatus the shaft HI carries acrank |I5 provided with a handle II6 easily accessible to the operatoras shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tubular member I I3 is provided with anelongated arcuate slot 1 (Figure 12) through which project a pair ofplates H8 and I I9 (Figures 2 and 12). These plates being arranged inalignment with each other and spaced for the passage therebetween of thebelt 54. These plates normally extend angularly toward the drum 30 asshown in Figure 12 and the plate H8 is notched as at M0 to clear thepulley 53. Th e plates constitute a safety feature for stoppin the motor81' and applyingthe brake as will become apparent.

The operation of the apparatus is'as follows: The apparatus is turned toa position in which the loading and discharge opening faces up.- wardly,and articles which have been laundered and from which the water has beenlargely extracted are loaded into the tumbler. The operment.

counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 to move the doorstructure 59 to closed position, in which position the projection 19will lock against the lug 80 (Figure 8) and the projection 82 willengage the end 83 of the ring 55. The articles which have been placed inthe apparatus are damp and in a tightly wrinkled condition and theapparatus is operated to shake out the articles and to greatly softenand lessen the sharpness of the wrinkles. The apparatus is placed inoperation by moving the knob H6 upwardly to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 11, this operation pulling upwardly on the arm N10 to'engage the switch arm I with the switch I04 to start the motor 81. Thesame operation swings the brake shoe 93 away from the brake drum 9! torelease the shaft 89 for rotation. Moreover, in performing theoperations referred to, the spring 502 will move across the axis of theshaft 94 sufliciently to hold the arm Illl in the operative positionshown in dotted lines in Figure 11. The spring I02 and associatedelements provide a snap-over mechanism the functioning of which will befurther referred to later.

The operation of the motor rotates the tumbler through the medium of thebelt 54 and the ribs 38 will pick up the articles in the tumbler duringrotation of the drum and repeatedly drop them to the bottom of the drum.The speed of rotation of the drum is such that the articles will bedropped in the manner stated rather than being carried around with thedrum in a rotary move- This repeated picking up and dropping of thearticles prepares them for subsequent ironing within about two or threeminutes.

During operation of the drum the coils t! (Figure 3) will be suppliedwith steam entering through the header 5| and leaving through the header52 together with water of condensation forming in the coils. Thethermo-syphonic ac tion occurring in the heating chamber 46 causes hotair to flow into the drum through the perforations 34 toward the top ofthe drum, the cool air in the lower portion of the drum flowingtherefrom into the heating chamber 46 as will be apparent. Moreover, thesuccessive operations of dropping the clothes or other launderedarticles after they have been lifted by the ribs 38 causes the expulsionof air through the perforations 34 toward the bottom of the drum, thusassisting in the circulation of heated air through the drum. It will beobvious, of course, that any suitable heating means may be employedother than the steam coils ll with their radiating fins 48.

The apparatus thus provides excellent means for heating the damparticles within the tumbler together with the continuous circulation ofthe heated air without the use of circulating fans or outsidecirculating ducts. as have been previously employed for cyclicallycirculating theair.

The water content of the articles is relatively highly heated to providetwo important results. In the first place, the heating of the watercontent greatly softens and lessens the sharpness in the wrinkles in thelaundered articles to render them more easily ironed, and in the secondplace, the clothes are delivered to the ironers at such a temperature asto make the completion of the ioring operatio and the drying out of themoisture in the articles require a minimum length of time. From two tothree minutes operation of the apparatus, therefore, provides greatlyflufied and materially less wrinkled articles and thus the articles arein the correct condition paticularly for machine ironing.

After the articles have been properly prepared for ironing the machineis stopped with the discharge opening near the bottom of the apparatus,the rotation of the tumbler being stopped by moving the knob H5downwardly to reverse the operations previously described whereby theswitch (Figure 11) may be opened and the brake applied by the rocking ofthe shaft 94 to quickly stop the mechanism in the proper position. Thehand wheel 65 is then rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed inFigures 1 and 7, closed position in Figure 7, to the open position inFigure 1, whereupon the clothes will readily drop by gravity into thebasket on the platform Hi.

The structure of the door 59 and the discharge opening of the tumblerare highly important. By extending the discharge opening through thefront wall 32 of the tumbler casing the discharging of the clothes aswell as the loading of the tumbler are greatly facilitated. By formingthe rear end of the tumbler conical as shown in Figure 3 any articleswhich are in such conical portion of the tumbler fall by gravity towardand thence through the opening 51. The conical structure of the drumpermits such portion of the drum to project into the heating chamber toprovide for effecting heating of the articles in the apparatus. Thearrangement of the ribs 38 is such that when the discharge opening is ina position to discharge articles, the ribs 38 slope downwardly and thusprevent the hanging thereon ofany of the articles.

The elimination of so many of the structural features of my priorapparatus referred to above greatly lowers the cost of manufacture,maintenance and operation of the apparatus. In fact, only approximatelyone tenth the power is required for operating the present apparatus thatwas required with my prior apparatus. It is unnecessary to mount thetumbler for turning movement on an axis perpendicular to the spindie 38to unload the mechanism; it is unecessary to provide the powerpreviously employed for circulating air through the system; it isunnecessary to operate any part of the drum during the tumblingoperation against the friction occurring incident to the sealing packingneces to operate with approximately the same efficiency as my priorconstruction.

The apparatus as illustrated maybe consid ered a left hand apparatus andthe tumbler rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.Accordingly the right hand side of the tumbler moves downwardly towardthe top I! with the space between the tumbler and the top i'i decreasingas the top H is approached. The plates H8 and H9 are employed as asafety feature to provide means for preventing mashing the hand or anyother part of the person of the operator between the tumbler and the topll. If an operator accidentally sticks some portion of his personbeneath the drum at the right hand side of the apparatus, for example,the hand of the operator, it will be obvious that the operators handwill contact either the plate H8 or H9 to swing the shaft Ill (Figure11) in the spring I 02 across the shaft 94 whereupon the spring I 02will snap the arm IN to its ofi position shown in solid lines inFigure-11, the switch being opened and the brake being applied. Thespring I02 is further past center in the ofi position than in theoperative position to utilize a greater force for. applying the brakethan need be employed for holding the brake in the oil position" and theswitch in the closed. position.

Accordingly it requires very little force, when the spring I02 is in theoff position, to swing it across the axis of the shaft 94 to apply thebrake and stop the motor 81. Thus the apparatus is designed to preventany injury to an operator.

The apparatus is also designed to facilitate the making of right andleft hand-machines so that two of the machines may be arranged face toface a with their platforms l6 fairly close to each other to facilitatethe feeding of a single ironer from the two tumbling mechanisms. Aspreviously stated the present machine may be considered to be a lefthand apparatus, but it will be apparent that the machine can beassembled as a right hand machine simply by assembling the motor ill onthe opposite side of the support 85 and by assembling the control andsafety features at the reverse side of the apparatus. For such amachine, the rib 38 (Figure 1) diametrically opposlte the dischargeopening would be retained in. the position shown while the rib 38 wouldbe placed adjacent the opposite end of the discharge opening.

It will be noted that the cylinder extends substantially beyond theplane of. connection of the conical wall 33 therewith, thus permitting aportion of the tumbler cylinder to form one wall of the heating chamber.A second wall the heating chamber is formed by the nice! wall oi" thedrum, thus making it neces to provide only the plate 48 (Figure 3) an Lclir ed wall 32 to complete the heating, ch rangement of parts alsocontii plicity and eilicient operation of t It is to be understood thatthe i vention herewith shown and taken as a preferred example thatvarious changes in the F rangement of parts may be i departing from thespirit of in scope of the subjoineol claims.

3'. claim:

1. An article conditioning atus laun dries comprising a tumbler formed.cal body having a perforated irustro wall defining one end of thetumbler and having" the peripheral portion of its larger end arrangedwithin and spaced from one end of oylindrical body whereby the latterend projects longitudinally beyond said peripheral portion of saidfrustro-conical wall, a casing coo to the projecting end of said b withsaid perforated wall to iorm a he chamber, and heating means for saidchain 2. An article conditioning apparatus for laun dries comprising atumbler formed of a oylindrlcal body having a perforatedfrustro-=conical defining one end of the tumbler and having theperipheral portion of its larger end arranged within and spaced from oneend oi said cylindrical body whereby the latter end projectsiongitudinally beyond said peripheral portion of said frustro-conicalwall, a casing cooperating with the projecting end of said cylindricalbody and with said perforated wall to form a heating chamber, heatingmeans for said chamber, and means within said tumbler carried by thecylindrical body thereof for alternately lifting and dropping articlesin the tumbler.

3. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblermounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having acylindrical body and end walls one of which is perforated, a casingspaced from said perforated wall and cooperating therewith to form aheating chamber, heating means for said chamber, said cylindrical bodyand the other end wall being cut away to form a single loading anddischarge opening, and a cover structure movable between two positionsto close said opening and to open it for the discharge of articlestherethrough by gravity when the tumbler is so positioned that thedischarge opening is at or adjacent its lowermost position.

drical body and end walls one of which is perfoill rated, a casingspaced from said perforated wall and cooperating therewit hrto form aheating chamber, heating means for said chamber, said cylindrical bodyand the other end wall being cut away to form a single loading anddischarge opening, and a cover structure rotatably connected to the lastnamed end wall coaxially with respect to said cylindrical body, saidcover structure having integral portions for closing said opening andfor opening it for. the gravitational discharge of articles from thetumbler when the tumbler is so positioned that the opening is at oradjacent its lowermost position.

5. An article conditioning apparatus for laundri-es comprising a tumblermounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having acylindrical body and end walls one of which is perforated, a casingspaced from said perforated ti and cooperating therewith to form aheatlaniber, heating means for said chamber, indrical body and the otherend wall being to form a single loading and discharge lg and a coverstructure movable between "itions to close said opening and to open rthe discharge of articles therethrough by y when the tumbler is sopositioned that scharge opening is at or adjacent its lowerposition,said perforated end wall being or conical in shape with its smaller endprojecting axially from the end of said cylindrical body and the openingin said cylindrical body extending to a point adjacent said perforatedwall whereby the latter tends to feed articles toward said opening whensaid opening is at or adjacent its lowermost position.

e. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblermounted for rotation on a. horizontal axis, said tumbler having acylindrical body and end walls one of which is perforated, a casingspaced from said perforated wall and cooperating therewith to form aheating chamber, heating means for said champerforated end wall beinggenerally conical in shape with its smaller end projecting axially fromthe end of said cylindrical body and the opening in said cylindricalbody extending to a point adjacent said perforated wall whereby thelatter tends to feed articles toward said openme when said opening is ator adjacent its lowermost position.

'I. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a cylindrical body arranged with its axi horizontal, a, conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantially beyond said flanged end,a stationary casing spaced from said conical end wall and provided witha flanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent endof saidcylindrical body, packing means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of-said cylindrical body, andheating means'arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall.

8. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantially beyond said flanged end,a stationary casing spaced from said conical end wall and provided witha flanged portion adjacent and concentricwlth the adjacent end of saidcylindrical body, packin means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, and means within and carried by said cylindrical body foralternately lifting and dropping articles in the tumbler.

9. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantially be.- yond said flangedend, a stationary casing spaced from said conical end wall and providedwith a flanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent end ofsaid cylindrical wall, packing means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, said cylindrical body having an end wall at the other enthereof, said cylindrical body and said last named end wall being cutaway to form a loading and discharge opening, and closure means for saidopening having portions forming substantially continuation of saidcylindrical body and said last named end wall.

10. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a; cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantiallybeyond said flanged end,a stationary casing spaced from said conical end wall and provided witha flanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent end of saidcylindrical wall, packing means between the flanged portion of said,stationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between-said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, said cylindrical body having an end wall at the other endthereof, said cylindrical body and said last named end wall being cutaway to form a loading and discharg opening, closure means for saidopening having portions formin substantially continuations of saidcylindrical body and said last named end wall, and means for connectingsaid closure means to the last named end wall coaxially with respect tothe tumbler for rotations.

11. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantially beyond said flanged end,a stationary casing spaced from aid conical end wall'and provided with aflanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent end of saidcylindrical wall, packing means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, said cylindrical body having an end wall at the other endthereof, said cylindrical body and said last named end wall being cutaway to form a loading and discharge opening, closure means for saidopening having portions forming substantially continuations of saidcylindrical body and said last named end wall, and means for connectinsaid closure means to the last named end wall coaxially with respect tothe tumbler for rotational movement between open and closed positions,the opening in said cylindrical body extending substantially to saidconical wall whereby the latter tends to feed articlestoward saidopening by gravity when the tumbler is so positioned that said openingis at or adjacent its lowermost position.

12. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from one endthereof whereby such end projects substantially beyond said flanged end,a stationary casing spaced from said conical end walland provided with aflanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent end of saidcylindrical wall, packing means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, said cylindrical body having an endwall at the other endthereof, said cylindrical body and said last named end wall being cutaway to form a, loading and discharge opening, and closure means forsaid opening having portions formingsubstanwhereby such end projectssubstantially beyond said flanged end, a stationary casing spaced fromsaid conical end wall and provided with a flanged portion adjacent andconcentric with the adjacent end of said cylindrical body, packing meansbetween the flanged portion of said stationary casing and the projectingend of said cylindrical body, heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conical end wall, said cycontinuations of saidcylindrical body and said last named end wall, and means for connectingsaid closure means to the last named end wall coaxially with respect tothe tumbler for rotational movement between open and closed positions,and means within and carried by said cylindrical body for alternatelylifting and dropping articles in'the tumbler.

14. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblerhaving a, cylindrical body arranged with its axis horizontal, a conicalperforated end wall for said cylindrical body having a flanged endconnected to said cylindrical body at a point spaced from oneend thereofwhereby such end projects substantially beyond saidflangecl end, astationary casing spaced from said conical end wall and provided with aflanged portion adjacent and concentric with the adjacent end of saidcylindrical body, packing means between the flanged portion of saidstationary casing and the projecting end of said cylindrical body,heating means arranged between said stationary casing and said conicalend wall, said cylindrical body having an end wall at the other endthereof, said cylindrical body and said last named end wall being cutaway to form a loading and discharg opening, closure means for saidopening having portions forming substantially continuations of saidcylindrical body and said last named end wall, and means for connectine-"aid closure means'to the last named end oanially with respect to thetumbler for rosai movement between open and closed positicns, theopening in said cylindrical body ex tending substantially to saidconical wall whereby the latter tends to feed articles toward said bygravity when the tumbler is so positic' i that said opening is at oradjacent its low-. era-most position, and means within and carried ysaid, cylindrical body for alternately lifting and dropping articles inthe tumbler.

15, An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a base, avertically extending stationary post carried by said base, a stationarycasing mounted on the upper end of said post, hearings in said casing, aspindle supported by said bearings for rotation on a horizontav axis, atumbler carried by said spindle, and a heater casing carried by saidfirst named casing and spaced from one wall of said tumbler to form aheating chamber, heating means for said chamber, said wall of saidtumbler being an end wall and being perforated.

16. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a base, avertically extending stationary post carried by said base, a stationarycasing mounted on the upper end of said post, bearings in said casing, aspindle supported by said bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, atumbler carried by said spindle, a heater cas ing carried by said firstnamed casing andspaced from one wall of said tumbler to form a heatingchamber, heating means for said chamber, said wall of said tumbler beingan end wall and being perforated, and means within said tumbler foralternately lifting and dropping articles in the tumbler to effect acirculation of air between the interior of said tumbler and said heatingchamber.

' 17. A conditioning apparatus for moist laundered articles comprising apair of spaced end .walls, one of which is perforated and the other ofwhich is normally imperforate, said end walls having a common horizontalaxis, a surrounding wall forming with said end walls anarticle-receiving and conditioning tumbler, an imperforate wallstructure surrounding said axis and spaced along said axis from andcooperating with said perforated Wall to form a heating chamber, heatingmeans insaid chamber between said perforated wall and said imperforatewall structure, and means for supporting said tumbler for rotation onsaid horizontal axis, said wall structure, said surrounding wall andsaid normally imperforate end wall forming a substantially leakproofcasing to retain therein moisture evaporated from the articles.

18. A conditioning apparatus for moist laundered articles comprising apair of spaced end walls, one of which is perforated and the other ofwhich is normally imperiorate, said end walls having a common horizontalaxis, a surrounding wallforining with said end walls anarticle-receiving and conditioning tumbler, an imperforate wallstructure surrounding said axis and spaced along said axis from andcooperating with said perforated wall to form a heating chamber, heatingmeans in said chamber between said perforated Waii and said imperforatewall structure, means ior supporting said tumbler for rotation on saidhorizontal axis, said wall structure, said surrounding wall and saidnormally imperiorate end wall forming a substantially leak-prom cas ingto retain therein moisture evaporated from the articles, and means foralternately lifting and dropping articles in the tumbler to effect acirculation of air be can the interior of said turnbler and said heat. gchamber.

l9. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a base, avertically extending stationary post carried by said base, a stationarycasing mounted on the upper end of said post, bearings in said casing, aspindle supported by said bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, atumbler carried by said spindle, a heater cas ing carried by said firstnamed casing and spaced from one wall of said tumbler to form a heatingchamber, heating means for said chamber, said Wall of said tumbler beinga, perforated conical end wall with the smaller end projecting away fromthe body of the tumbler, and means within the body of the tumbler foralternately lifting and dropping articles in the tumbler.

20. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a basestructure, a tumbler mounted above said base structure for rotation on ahorizontal axis, means comprising a motor for rotating said tumbler inone direction whereby one side of said tumbler moves downwardly andinwardly toward the top of said base structure, there being a relativelyangular space between said side of said tumbler and said base structure,and means in said space projecting from said base structure toward saidside of said tumbler and movable downwardly to stop said motor.-

21. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a basestructure, a tumbler mounted above said base structure for rotation on'a horizontal axis, means comprising a motor for rotating said tumblerin one direction whereby one side of said tumbler movesdownwardly andinwardly toward the top of said base structure, there being a relativelyangular space be tween said side of said tumbler and said basestructure, a rock shaft, means operable by said rock shaft for startingand stopping said motor, a handle carried by said rock shaft, and meansin said space carried by said rock shaft substan=- tially throughout thelength of said tumbler and extending toward said side thereof andmovable downwardly to rock said shaft and stop said motor.

22. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a basestructure, a. tumbler mounted above said base structure for rotation ona horizontal axis, means comprising a motor for rotating said tumbler,there being a relatively angular space between said base structure andthe downwardly moving side of said tumbler when the latter is rotated inone direction, a brake for said means, and common operating means forstopping said motor and applying said brake or for starting said motorand releasing said brake, said last named means comprising a plate insaid space projecting from said base structure toward the side of saidtumbler which moves downwardly toward said base structure upon rotationof the tumbler, said plate being movable downwardly to stop said motorand apply said brake.

EDWARD D. PURKETT.

